AI Isn’t Killing EAs—It’s Turning Them Into Executive Proxies (Tech Firms Pay 26% More For These New Power Players)

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By: Oliver Hawthorne

The fear that AI would wipe out executive assistant roles is missing the mark. Layoffs at firms like PwC and McKinsey have fueled anxiety, but the role isn’t disappearing—it’s shifting into something more influential. The core contradiction here is simple: while some EAs are being let go, others are being promoted to positions that act as direct proxies for executives. For months, headlines have screamed that AI tools would render EAs redundant. But the reality is far more nuanced. The layoffs we’re seeing aren’t a death knell—they’re a filter.

Adnan Khan, cofounder of Viva Talent, says the best EAs now leverage AI to handle tasks once reserved for managers or chiefs of staff. They run company-wide meetings, coordinate cross-functional projects, and even do initial performance reviews. Khan says his clients aren’t cutting EA roles; they’re upgrading them. They want EAs who can use AI to manage larger teams and complex workflows, not just calendars and expenses. Payscale data backs this shift: tech industry EAs get a 26% new-hire premium, earning $110,000 compared to $87,000 for incumbents. Even AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic still hire EAs—proof their own tech isn’t making the role obsolete. Khan points to human skills AI can’t replicate: empathy, sound judgment, and the ability to hold executives accountable like peers. One exec told Khan his EA pushes for decisions and challenges assumptions in ways software can’t.

This shift creates a new market dynamic. The demand for high-skill EAs is outpacing supply, hence the pay premium. Companies that invest in upskilling their EAs will gain a competitive edge—their leaders will have more time to focus on big-picture strategy, while their EAs handle the tactical heavy lifting. The future of the EA role isn’t about being replaced by AI; it’s about working with AI to become more valuable than ever. The end-game? Executive assistants won’t just support leaders—they’ll be extensions of them, with the pay and responsibility to match.

Author bio: Oliver Hawthorne, Principal Correspondent at an international tech review, covers AI’s impact on workplace dynamics and emerging job roles.